Sheet lifting and counting device



PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

' J. W. DARLEY, JR. SHEET LIFTING AND COUNTING DEVICE.

APPL IUATION FILED 0OT.29, 1903.

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No. 752,616. PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

J. W. DARLEY, JR. SHEET LIPTING AND COUNTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 001..29, 1903.

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No. 752,616. i Patented February 16, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN w. DARLEY, JR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR' OF ONE- HALF TO DAVID E. EVANS, PHILIP HAMBUReER, LEON IIAMBUReER, AND MIOIIAEL HOLZMAN, OE ALT MORE, MARYLAND.

SHEET LIFTI NG AND COUNTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,616, dated February 16, 1904.

Application filed October 29,1903. Serial No. 179,085. (No model.) I

TO all whom it y OOTLOWW pressure factor and the turning factor in a Be it known that I, JOHN W. DARLEY, J r., a single piece, and thus great delicacy and per- 5 citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimanency is obtained. more,State ofMaryland, have invented certain My invention will be understood by refernew and useful Improvements in Sheet Lifting ence to the accompanying drawings, in which and Counting Devices; andIdo hereby declare the same parts are indicated by the same letthe following to be a full, clear, and exact deters throughout the several views. 55 scription of the invention, such as will enable Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table others skilled in the art to which it appertains fitted with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2

to make and use the same. shows a section through the casing inclosing My present invention relates to improvethe gearing for driving the rod of the lifting ments in sheet lifting and counting machines; device, the other parts being shown in eleva- 60 and it is intended to provide a machine which tion. Fig. 3 shows the top of the casing for will lift the corners of the sheets of paper sort the gearing removed and the sleeve mounted 5 (mm and will register each corner so lifted. on the rod in section. Fig. 4 shows a section After the corner is lifted the sheets may be along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking down, removed in any convenient way, as by the and Fig. 5 shows the lifting-finger with some 5 well-known air-blast apparatus. of the sheets of paper lifted above the same.

In that class of machines which are adapted Referring now to Fig.1, A represents any to lift a single sheet of paper from a pile it suitable platform mounted on any suitable suphas heretofore been necessary to manually adport A". This platform is provided with two just the tension or pressure of the rubber liftfixed strips A A projecting above the same, 7 ing-finger on the paper, this adjustment being which strips are placed at right angles to each necessary on account of the varying thickness other, but with the angle cut away to allow 5 and quality of the paper and also on account the corners of the strips of paper to project i of the diifei ence in the same paper when into the open corner. A represents an adprinted or not. With the present invention justable clamp-strip which may be adjusted to- 7 5 the rubber lifting-finger has onlyavery slight ward the strip A as by means of the slotted initial pressure when itfirst touches the paper, arm a and the clamp-screw a. Thus the sheets 3 just enough to insure contact of the rubber of paper B are held neatly piled one above the and paper, and the power that moves the liftother by means of the three strips A, A and ing-finger and so buckles the paper is trans- A The corners of these strips beneath the o mitted to the lifting-finger in such a way that lifting-finger (shown at 12 in Fig. 5) rest upon an additional pressure of the finger is proa rounded piece a", so as to give these corners duced On the paper, which additional pressure a slight inclination and enable the lifting-finincreases as the resistance to the motion of ger to operate more effectively, as will be the finger increases. Thus the finger starts to hereinafter described. Just in rear of the move and the pressure increases until the top rounded piece a" I provide an arm C, joursheet of paper slips on the second sheet. I naled in brackets C and pressed down on the 4 find that the coefficient of friction of the rubpaper by a weak coil-spring C (Shown in her on the paper is about five times the coef- Figs. 1 and 5.) D represents a treadle pivficient of friction of paper on paper. Thus if oted, as at d, and normally pressed upward the pressure is never more than enough to by the spring D. To this treadle a rod Efor cause the top sheet of paper to move it follows operating the counters F is connected, and

45 that sufficient power cannot be transmitted to these counters are so arranged as to register the second sheet to cause it to move. The. every downward movement of the treadle. To parts also are so arranged that the force apthis treadle D and on opposite sides of the plied to the lifting-finger is resolved into the pivot 0Z are connected the ends of the cord H,

which cord passes over idlers I I in the bracket 1 and then is wound on the drum K, which is loose on the shaft M, which shaft is journaled in the bearing N, rigidly attached to the platform A. This shaft has secured thereon the ratchet-wheel M and the spiral gear M The ratchet-wheel M engages the springpawl 70, which is carried by the drum K and L, which is pivoted beneath the platform A, and thus this ratchet-Wheel is held against backlash. The upper end of the shaft M carries the spiral gear M meshing in the spiral pinion P fast on the rod P, which carries the lifting-finger P faced with rubber or other material having a greater coefiicient of friction with the paper or other material to be lifted than the sheets of material have with each other. The spiral gear is mounted in a suitable casing T, which is open, as at t, to permit the engagement of the spiral pinion P therewith, and made integral with this casing is the casing T for the end of the rod P, carrying the spiral pinion P The rear end of this rod p slides in a vertical slot 23 in the casing T, and the said rod carries a fixed sleeve P, which has a bearing, as at p, on the casing T of such a shape as to permit of the rod P rocking thereon as a fulcrum. Thus it will be seen that the rod P rocks upward about this pivot p through an angle which is limited by the length of the slot 6 In order to keep the rod normally tilted upward, or, in other words, with the lifting-finger normally bearing down on'the sheets of paper, I provide the loose sleeve Q, mounted on the rod P and provided with an annular collar g, in which engages the spring R. (See Fig. 2.) This spring normally presses upward on the said collar 9 and may be adjusted by means of the nut r, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus it will be seen that the spring R causes the heel of the rod to tilt up and the lifting-finger P to bear down on the corners of the paper. Moreover, the threads of the spiral gearing are so pitched as to supplement this action of the spring R.

The operation of the device is as follows: Referring to Fig. 3, when M is turned in the direction of the arrow, the teeth of M and P being cut at an angle of forty-five degrees, the sleeve Q will be forced in the direction of the arrow 2 against the shoulder T. The sole effect of this is a slight increase of friction. Also the pinion P at the point of contact of its tooth with the tooth of M will receive a pressure in a direction at right angles to the plane of motion of M and toward the observer, looking at Fig. 3. This pressure will tend to revolve P in the direction of the arrow 3, and since the rod P is fulcrumed at 9 will cause the rubber p to bear harder on the paper B. It will also be evident that the greater the pressure of the tooth of M against the tooth of P the greater will be the pressure of p on the paper B, and as the pressure between the teeth is dependent upon the resistance to motion of counters to register and will also cause the cord H to rotate the drum K in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. This would cause the pawl is to drag around the ratchetwheel M, which would rotate the shaft M and with it the worm-Wheel M As this wormwheel revolves it will rotate the worm P causing the rod P to partially rotate until the adhesive surface 17 of the lifting-finger engages the paper. If the sheet slips readily over the sheet below, the lifting-finger will continue to revolve through a further angle until it pushes up and passes under the corner of the paper, when the motion will be interrupted, due'to the fact that the treadle has reached its lower limit of travel. Now if the treadle be released the spring D will restore the parts to the initial position. If, however, the sheet to be lifted does not yield readily, the adhesive face 19 will bite against the face of the sheet with increased force, due to the coaction of the spring R and of the wormwheel M and worm P and this increased pressure will continue until the top sheet slips on the sheet below, for since the coefficient of friction of the adhesive tip on the top sheet is greater than that between any two of the sheets it necessarily follows that the top sheet will slip on the sheet below before the adhesive tip slips on the top sheet. Thus it will be seen that the machine automatically adjusts itself for varying coeflicients of friction between two of the sheets and for the varying resistance due to difference in thickness of the sheets, and thus the machine is adapted for use either with the thinnest paper, such as tissue-paper, or with heavier sheets, such as cardboard, and automatically adjusts itself to variations between these limits of thickness and resistance. Moreover, the spring R will cause the lifting-finger to press down on the top sheet whether the pile of sheets be high or low, while the wedging action of the Wormthreads will cause the requisite pressure to be applied to the lifting-finger to push back and lift the corner of the top sheet. This action will be assisted by the curvature of the corners 6 of the sheets, due to the rounded block (1.".

It will be evident that where the machine is to do heavy work the spring B may be set up under greater initial tension than where light work is to be done.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the hereinbefore-described apparatus which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus any other suitable platform may be provided, any other suitable way for rotating the shaft M intermittently may be adopted, and various other modifications in the construction and arrangeinent of parts might be had without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a moving adhesive finger, of means for producing a substantially uniform pressure of said finger on the sheets, and means for superposing a pressure on said finger which pressure increases as the resistance to motion of said finger increases, substantially as described.

2. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a rotary adhesive finger acting under initial pressure on the sheet, and means for superposing a pressure on said finger which pressure increases as the resistance to motion of said finger increases, substantially as described.

3. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a rolling rod provided with an adhesive finger adapted to engage the leaf, of a spring normally pressing said finger on said leaf, and means for superposing a pressure on said finger which pressure increases as the resistance to rotation of said finger increases, substantiallyas described.

4. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger, down on the paper, and means for rotating said rod, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, and spiral gearing for rotating said rod, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, and spiral gearing adapted to rotate said rod and at the same time to press said fingers more firmly on the paper when the adhesive finger encounters resistance in rotation, substantially as described.

7. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, a spring engaging said sleeve, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said pinion, and adapted to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said pinion, substantially as described.

8. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, asleeve loosely mounted on said rod, and provided with an annular collar, a spring engaging said annular collar, andpressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said worm and adapted to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said Worm-wheel, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, and spiral gearing for rotating said rod, having its teeth so disposed as to press said finger down on the paper in conjunction with said spring with increasing pressureas the said finger encounters resistance to rotation, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and spiral gearing for rotating said rod, having its threads so disposed as to press said finger down on the paper in conjunction with said spring with increasing pressure as the said finger encounters resistance to rotation, substantially as described.

11. Thecombination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and spiral gearing adapted to rotate said rod and having the engaging teeth so disposed as at the same time to press said finger more firmly on the paper when the adhesive finger encounters resistance in rotation, substantially as described.

12. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, a spring engaging said sleeve, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said worm, said pinion and gear having their threads so disposed as to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said spiral gear intermittently in the same direction, substantially carrying one end of an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, and provided with an annular collar, a spring engaglng said annular collar, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on.

said rod, a spiral gear engaging said worm,

&

said pinion and gear having their threads so disposed as to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said worm-wheel intermittently in the same direction, substantially as described.

14:. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, and spiral gearing adapted to ro- 1 tate said rod and at the same time to press said finger more firmly on the paper when the adhesive finger encounters resistance in rotation, a counter, and mechanism for driving said spiral gearing, and for simultaneously operating said counter, substantially as described.

15. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, a spring engaging said sleeve, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion 'on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said pinion, and adapted to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, a counter, and means for simultaneously rotating said worm-wheel, and operating said counter, substantially as described.

16. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, asleeve loosely mounted on said rod, and provided with an annular collar, a spring engaging said annular collar, and pressing said finger down on the paper,means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said worm and adapted to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, a counter, and means for rotating said worm-wheel, and for simultaneously operating said counter, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, and spiral gearing for rotating said rod, having its teeth so disposed as to press said finger down on the paper with increasing pressure as the said finger encounters resistance .to rotation, and means for rotating said wormwheel intermittently in the same direction, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, a spiral gear for rotating said rod, having its teeth so disposed as to press said finger down on the paper in conjunction with said spring with increasing pressure as the said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said spiral gear intermittently in the same direction, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, spiral gearing adapted to rotate said rod and having the engaging threads so disposed as at the same time to press said fingers more firmly on the paper when the adhesive finger encounters resistance in rotation, and means for operating said worm-gearing, comprising a drum, a ratchet-and-pawl arrangement, connecting said drum to said worm-gearing, cords rove over said drum, and means for hauling on said cords in reverse directions, substantially as described.

20. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying at one end an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, a spring engaging said sleeve, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said pinion, said pinion and gear having their teeth so disposed as to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said gear, comprising a drum, a ratchet-and-pawl arrangement, connecting said drum to said wormgearing, cords rove over said drum, and means for hauling on said cords in reverse directions, substantially as described.

21. In a sheet-lifter, the combination with a casing, of a rod fulcrumed in said casing and carrying one end of an adhesive finger, a sleeve loosely mounted on said rod, and provided with'an annular collar, a spring engaging said annular collar, and pressing said finger down on the paper, means for holding said rod against lateral vibration, a spiral pinion on said rod, a spiral gear engaging said worm, said pinion and gear having their teeth so disposed as to press said finger down on said paper in conjunction with said spring when said finger encounters resistance to rotation, and means for rotating said gear, comprising a drum, a ratchet-and-pawl arrangement, connecting said drum to said worm-gearing, cords rove over said drum, and means for hauling on said cords in reverse directions, substantially as described.

22. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing vertically about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper, and spiral gearing adapted to rotate said rod at the same time to press said finger more firmly on the paper when the adhesive finger encounters resistance in rotation, a counter, a treadle, and mechanism operated by said treadle for driving said spiral gearing, and simultaneously operating said counter, substantially as described.

23. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper,

and means for rotating said rod, substantially as described.

2d. The combination with a fulcrumed rod adapted to swing about its fulcrum, of an adhesive finger carried by said rod, a spring normally pressing said finger down on the paper,

J. W. DARLEY, J R.

Witnesses:

EDWD. V. QUIGLEY, JAs. E. GEARY. 

